Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Burrell

JAMAICA'S REGGAE Boyz are playing the waiting game as it relates to confirmation of the proposed May 31 friendly against world number one ranked team Argentina in London.

Still in the process of negtiations, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss Captain Horace Burrell has stated that the ball is now in Argentina's court.

"We are excited about the prospect of playing them, but the call is Argentina's and they have another option, so we will just have to wait for a response," Burrell told The Sunday Gleaner.

"We expect that to be about in a week. They have promised to let us know what has decided by then; we would love to play against them though." he said.

Scenarios

Instead of playing in Europe against the Reggae Boyz and then Hungary on June 4, the South Americans could opt to travel to the United States where they would have June 4 and June 8 friendlies lined up against the hosts and Mexico.

In another scenario, Argentina could decide to play the London friendly before flying to the US to continue the contest against CONCACAF teams.

Ply their trade

Currently ranked 90th in the FIFA rankings, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz are desperately eyeing a move up the rankings in order to ensure that players continue to be able to ply their trade in England.

According to the United Kingdom Home Office, players will not be considered for a work permit unless their national team is ranked an average 75th in the past two years from the application date. A positive result against Argentina could go a long way in helping to improve current rankings.

Burrell, the man in charge of the programme when the national team made history by qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France, believes the game could go a long way in terms of repairing what he believes to be damaged football credibility in the national arena.

Rebuilding reputation

"They are the number one team in the world and this could give us an opportunity to begin rebuilding our reput-ation, which has been badly tarnished," he said.

"We would have a chance to build back some credibility and restore some pride from the point of view of international football," he said.

In their only other encounter, Argentina, led by a hat-trick from Gabriel Batis-tuta, beat the Jamai-cans 5-0 in the first round of the 1998 World Cup.

Tackle Haiti

However, in the meantime, it has been confirmed that the Reggae Boyz will tackle French Caribbean neighbours Haiti on May 18 in Fort Lauderdale.

Jamaica are expected to field a full-strength team, based on the fact that all of the English leagues will have concluded allowing national technical director Rene Simoes unlimited choices.

Haiti, the defending Digicel Caribbean Cup champions, were the first regional team to make it to the World Cup in 1974. They are currently ranked 100th, 10 places below Jamaica.